Guatemala’s markets, colonial towns, and highland villages come alive when you can ask a question, thank someone, or call for help in the local language. Carrying a short list of handy lines makes getting around, ordering food, and connecting with people much easier.
There are 68 Useful Phrases for Tourists in Guatemala, ranging from basic requests to transactional questions — Aquí, por favor,¿Tiene cambio? — covering greetings, directions, dining, numbers, and emergencies. Each item is organized with English translation,Pronunciation (phonetic),Usage / context so you can see meaning, sound, and when to use it; you’ll find below.
Which phrases should I learn first for a short trip to Guatemala?
Start with greetings (hola, buenos días), polite words (por favor, gracias), directions (¿Dónde está…?), numbers for prices, restaurant phrases, and an emergency sentence. Those cover most interactions and reduce misunderstandings; practice aloud and keep the list handy for markets and buses.
How reliable is the phonetic pronunciation in this list?
Phonetic guides give a practical head start and will usually be understood, but regional accents vary. Use the pronunciation column to approximate sounds, speak slowly, and pair it with listening to native speakers when possible for best results.
Useful Phrases for Tourists in Guatemala
| Phrase | English translation | Pronunciation (phonetic) | Usage / context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | OH-lah | General greeting |
| Buenos días | Good morning | BWEH-nos DEE-ahs | Morning greeting until midday |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | BWEH-nas TAR-des | Afternoon greeting after noon |
| Buenas noches | Good evening / Good night | BWEH-nas NOH-ches | Evening greeting or goodbye |
| Por favor | Please | por fah-VOR | Polite request word |
| Gracias | Thank you | GRAH-syahs | Simple thanks |
| Muchas gracias | Thank you very much | MOO-chas GRAH-syahs | Stronger thanks |
| De nada | You’re welcome | de NAH-dah | Reply to thanks |
| Disculpe | Excuse me / Sorry | dis-KUL-peh | Get attention or apologize |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (passing by) | cone per-MEE-so | Ask to pass or enter |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you | MOO-cho GOO-stoh | Meeting someone for first time |
| ¿Cómo está usted? | How are you? (formal) | KOH-moh es-TAH oos-TEHD | Formal “how are you” with adults |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? (informal) | KOH-moh ess-TAHS | Informal greeting with peers |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where is the bathroom? | DON-day es-TAH el BAH-nyo | Ask for restroom location |
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is … ? | DON-day es-TAH | Asking location of places |
| ¿Cómo llego a…? | How do I get to … ? | KOH-moh YEH-go ah | Requesting directions |
| ¿A qué hora sale? | What time does it leave? | ah keh OH-rah SAH-leh | Ask about departures (buses/flights) |
| Un boleto a…, por favor | A ticket to…, please | oon boh-LEH-toh ah… por fah-VOR | Buying transport tickets |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | KWAN-toh KWEHS-tah | Asking price of goods or services |
| ¿Me puede dar un descuento? | Can you give me a discount? | meh PWEH-deh dar oon des-KWEN-toh | Polite bargaining request |
| ¿Acepta tarjeta? | Do you accept card? | ah-SEHP-tah tar-HEH-tah | Ask about card payments |
| ¿Tiene cambio? | Do you have change? | TEE-eh-neh KAM-byoh | Ask for smaller bills or coins |
| ¿Puedo pagar en efectivo? | Can I pay in cash? | PWEH-doh pah-GAR en eh-fehk-TEE-voh | Confirm payment method |
| Una mesa para dos, por favor | A table for two, please | OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah DOHS por fah-VOR | Requesting a table at a restaurant |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please | lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR | Asking for the check in restaurants |
| ¿Qué recomienda? | What do you recommend? | keh reh-koh-MYEN-dah | Ask waitstaff for suggestions |
| Soy alérgico/a a… | I am allergic to … | soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh/ah ah | Informing about food allergies |
| Sin hielo, por favor | No ice, please | seen YEH-loh por fah-VOR | Request to avoid ice in drinks |
| Para llevar, por favor | To go / Takeaway, please | PAH-rah yah-BAHR por fah-VOR | Ordering food to go |
| Buen provecho | Enjoy your meal | bwen proh-VEH-choh | Said before or during meals |
| ¿Puedo tomarle una foto? | Can I take your picture? | PWEH-doh toh-MAR-leh OO-nah FOH-toh | Asking permission to photograph someone |
| ¿Está hecho a mano? | Is this handmade? | es-TAH EH-choh ah MAH-noh | Ask about craft origins |
| ¿De dónde es? | Where is it from? / Where are you from? | deh DON-day ess | Ask about origin of items or people |
| Tengo una reservación | I have a reservation | TEN-goh OO-nah reh-sehr-vah-SYON | Hotel or tour reservation check-in |
| ¿Hay habitación disponible? | Is there a room available? | eye ah-bee-tah-SYON dis-poh-NEE-bleh | Ask hotels or guesthouses about rooms |
| ¿A qué hora es la salida? | What time is checkout? | ah keh OH-rah ess lah sah-LEE-dah | Ask hotel about check-out time |
| ¿Incluye desayuno? | Does it include breakfast? | een-KLOO-yeh dehs-ah-YOO-noh | Ask if breakfast is provided |
| ¿Puede guardar mi equipaje? | Can you store my luggage? | PWEH-deh gwar-DAR mee eh-kee-PAH-heh | Ask hotel to hold luggage after check-out |
| Necesito ayuda | I need help | neh-SEH-see-toh ah-YOO-dah | Emergency or urgent assistance |
| Llame a la policía | Call the police | YAH-meh ah lah poh-LEE-see-ah | Request police assistance |
| Necesito un médico | I need a doctor | neh-SEH-see-toh oon MEH-dee-koh | Medical emergency or illness |
| Perdí mi pasaporte | I lost my passport | pehr-DEE mee pah-sah-POR-teh | Report a lost passport |
| Me robaron | I was robbed | meh roh-BAR-on | Report theft |
| Estoy perdido/a | I am lost | es-TOY pehr-DEE-doh/ah | Ask for directions when lost |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? | AH-blah EEN-glehs | Ask if someone speaks English |
| No entiendo | I don’t understand | noh ehn-TYEN-doh | Indicate lack of comprehension |
| Hable más despacio, por favor | Speak more slowly, please | AH-bleh mahs dehs-PAH-syoh por fah-VOR | Ask for slower speech |
| Repita, por favor | Repeat, please | reh-PEE-tah por fah-VOR | Ask someone to repeat what they said |
| Hablo un poco de español | I speak a little Spanish | AH-bloh oon POH-koh deh ehs-pah-NYOHL | Introduce your language ability |
| ¿Cómo se dice … en español? | How do you say … in Spanish? | KOH-moh seh DEE-seh … en ehs-pah-NYOHL | Ask for translations or vocabulary |
| ¿Dónde está la estación de buses? | Where is the bus station? | DON-day es-TAH lah ehs-tah-SYON deh BOO-sehs | Ask for the bus terminal |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta el pasaje? | How much is the fare? | KWAN-toh KWEHS-tah el pah-SAH-heh | Ask price for bus or shuttle fare |
| Aquí, por favor | Here, please (taxi) | ah-KEE por fah-VOR | Tell taxi driver where to stop |
| Baje aquí, por favor | Drop me off here, please | BAH-heh ah-KEE por fah-VOR | Ask driver to stop and let you off |
| Siga derecho | Go straight | SEE-gah deh-REH-choh | Direction when navigating |
| Gire a la derecha | Turn right | HEE-reh ah lah deh-REH-chah | Direction when navigating |
| Gire a la izquierda | Turn left | HEE-reh ah lah ees-KEE-EHR-dah | Direction when navigating |
| ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? | keh OH-rah ess | Ask for the current time |
| Uno | One | OO-noh | Basic number for prices and counting |
| Dos | Two | dohs | Basic number for quantities/prices |
| Tres | Three | tres | Basic number for quantities/prices |
| Cuatro | Four | KWA-troh | Basic number for quantities/prices |
| Cinco | Five | SEEN-koh | Basic number for quantities/prices |
| Seis | Six | says | Number use in transactions |
| Siete | Seven | SYEH-teh | Number used in counting and prices |
| Ocho | Eight | OH-choh | Number used in counting and prices |
| Nueve | Nine | NWEH-veh | Number used in counting and prices |
| Diez | Ten | dyehs | Number used in counting and prices |
Descriptions
Hola
Short, casual greeting used any time of day in Guatemala. Friendly and widely accepted with vendors, guides, and strangers. Use “buenos días/tardes/noches” to be more formal with elders or official staff.
Buenos días
Common polite morning greeting used with shopkeepers, drivers, hotel staff and locals. More formal than “hola,” appropriate at markets, cafes and when meeting people for the first time.
Buenas tardes
Used from midday through late afternoon. Polite and standard in shops, restaurants and tours. Swap to “buenas noches” when it gets dark.
Buenas noches
Used after dark either to greet or say goodbye. Polite for restaurants, hotels, and when leaving events. Also a way to wish someone a good night.
Por favor
Essential polite word for requests in shops, taxis, restaurants, and asking directions. Using “por favor” softens questions and is expected in service interactions.
Gracias
Basic, universally used expression of gratitude. Say it after receiving service, directions, or help. Adding “muchas” makes it stronger.
Muchas gracias
Warm, more emphatic gratitude used when someone goes out of their way to help you. Very polite and appreciated.
De nada
Common, casual reply after someone says “gracias.” Short and neutral; you can also say “con gusto” to be more formal.
Disculpe
Use to get someone’s attention, to excuse yourself through a crowd, or to apologize for a small mistake. Polite and widely used in public settings.
Con permiso
Say when you need to pass someone, enter a small shop or move through a crowded market. Signals respect and avoids bumping into people.
Mucho gusto
Polite phrase after an introduction. Formal enough for new acquaintances and friendly in social or tour settings.
¿Cómo está usted?
Use “usted” to show respect, especially with elders, officials, or service staff. Tourists defaulting to “usted” are usually seen as polite.
¿Cómo estás?
Used with friends, younger people, or when locals use “vos/tú.” Avoid informal with elders or officials unless invited.
¿Dónde está el baño?
Essential phrase for restaurants, markets, bus stations and hotels. “Servicio” or “sanitario” are also understood but “baño” is most common.
¿Dónde está…?
Insert a place name after the phrase. Useful for museums, bus stations, hotels and landmarks when asking locals for directions.
¿Cómo llego a…?
Used to ask for step-by-step directions. Locals may respond with landmarks; be ready to hear “siga derecho” or “a la izquierda.”
¿A qué hora sale?
Useful for bus terminals, shuttle services and tours. Follow up with “¿a qué hora llega?” for arrival times.
Un boleto a…, por favor
Use at bus stations or ticket booths. Insert destination after “a.” Good to carry exact spelling of town names.
¿Cuánto cuesta?
Universal phrase for markets, taxis, food stalls and souvenirs. Helps start bargaining or confirm posted prices.
¿Me puede dar un descuento?
Polite way to ask for a lower price in markets or for tours. Expect counteroffers; bargaining is common in many markets.
¿Acepta tarjeta?
Useful in hotels, larger restaurants, and some shops. Many smaller vendors prefer cash, especially in rural areas and markets.
¿Tiene cambio?
Ask when you need change for a large bill. Important in markets and taxis where small denominations matter.
¿Puedo pagar en efectivo?
Use if you prefer or only have cash. In Guatemala cash (quetzales) is often preferred; bring small bills for markets.
Una mesa para dos, por favor
Polite way to ask for seating. Add “en la terraza” or “en el interior” for preferences when available.
La cuenta, por favor
Standard phrase to ask for your bill. In Guatemala, tipping is appreciated but not always included—check the bill.
¿Qué recomienda?
Great for discovering local specialties. Helps servers suggest daily dishes like pepián, kak’ik or local tamales.
Soy alérgico/a a…
Important for food safety. State the allergen clearly (e.g., “a los mariscos”) and ask staff to confirm ingredients.
Sin hielo, por favor
Useful where tap water or ice may be unsafe. Ask for bottled drinks or “sin hielo” in juices and sodas.
Para llevar, por favor
Use at eateries and street stalls when you want food packaged. Avoid plastic waste by bringing your own container where possible.
Buen provecho
Polite phrase said to diners before eating. Common in Guatemala and appreciated; you can say it to someone sitting near you.
¿Puedo tomarle una foto?
Important and respectful when photographing people. Many indigenous communities expect permission; offer to show the photo afterward.
¿Está hecho a mano?
Useful in markets to learn if an item is artisan-made. Helps assess authenticity and justify bargaining or paying fair prices.
¿De dónde es?
Polite question for vendors about product origin or for friendly conversation with locals. Be respectful when asking about indigenous origins.
Tengo una reservación
Say at hotel reception or tour desks. Have your confirmation handy; providing the name makes check-in quicker.
¿Hay habitación disponible?
Useful for walk-in guests. Specify “con baño privado” or “con ventilador/aire acondicionado” to state preferences.
¿A qué hora es la salida?
Ask reception for check-out or departure time. Different hotels have varying policies; ask about luggage storage if you need late pickup.
¿Incluye desayuno?
Common hotel question. If included, ask about times or buffet details. Helps plan early tours or bus departures.
¿Puede guardar mi equipaje?
Useful when you have late departures or short sightseeing before a bus/flight. Many hotels offer safe storage.
Necesito ayuda
Basic emergency phrase for any urgent situation—medical, theft, or getting lost. Follow up with specific needs like “médico” or “policía.”
Llame a la policía
Important in serious emergencies like theft or threats. Police phone numbers vary; ask your hotel or tour operator for local emergency numbers.
Necesito un médico
Use in case of serious illness or injury. Hotels can assist calling ambulances; carry travel insurance details and local hospital names.
Perdí mi pasaporte
Report to your embassy/consulate promptly. Tell hotel staff and police; they can assist with paperwork and temporary documents.
Me robaron
Use to report being robbed. Provide details to police and your embassy. Keep copies of important documents separately to speed recovery.
Estoy perdido/a
Common and useful in towns and rural areas. Adding your destination helps locals give clearer directions or offer a ride.
¿Habla inglés?
Helpful to know if you can switch to English. Many tourism workers speak some English; rural areas less so.
No entiendo
Polite way to pause a conversation and ask for clarification or help. Follow with “más despacio” or “¿puede repetir?”
Hable más despacio, por favor
Very useful when non-native speakers talk quickly. Locals usually slow down if you request it politely.
Repita, por favor
Short, polite request when you miss information, like addresses or prices. Use with numbers and names.
Hablo un poco de español
Signals effort and politeness; locals appreciate attempts at Spanish, and they often respond kindly and helpfully.
¿Cómo se dice … en español?
Useful for learning local words, ordering food, or asking about place names; insert the word you want translated.
¿Dónde está la estación de buses?
Useful in towns for intercity travel. Buses are a common and inexpensive way to travel Guatemala; be specific about destination.
¿Cuánto cuesta el pasaje?
Ask before boarding to avoid surprises. Clarify whether the price is for local “chicken buses” or tourist shuttles.
Aquí, por favor
Polite way to indicate your drop-off point to a driver. Also say “pare aquí, por favor” when you want to stop.
Baje aquí, por favor
Common taxi phrase to indicate you want to get out. Useful for busy streets and market areas.
Siga derecho
Standard instruction from locals or drivers. Combine with distances or landmarks if given: “siga derecho hasta el parque.”
Gire a la derecha
Simple directional phrase used when following driving or walking directions. “Gire a la izquierda” is the left-turn equivalent.
Gire a la izquierda
Used for walking and driving directions. Locals often give landmarks instead of exact meters, so ask for reference points.
¿Qué hora es?
Useful for catching buses, tours, and reservations. Many Guatemalans will answer roughly; confirm with timetables when necessary.
Uno
First cardinal number; essential when understanding prices, bus numbers, room numbers and buying small quantities at markets.
Dos
Used for ordering two items, confirming pair pricing, or asking for two tickets. Numbers are essential in bargaining and transport.
Tres
Common when ordering food for a group, asking for three tickets, or negotiating market prices.
Cuatro
Useful for telling quantities, room numbers, bus seat numbers and basic counting in transactions.
Cinco
Helpful in markets and restaurants when ordering or counting local currency and change.
Seis
Used for quantities and prices. Listen carefully to pronunciation in fast speech to avoid misunderstandings when buying or paying.
Siete
Useful in schedules, market transactions and when reading bus or route numbers.
Ocho
Common in timetables and counting items. Recognizing numbers speeds up shopping and transport interactions.
Nueve
Useful for totals, prices and schedule times; important to confirm larger amounts when paying.
Diez
First double-digit base; used widely for prices, quantities and basic counting. Helpful for negotiating and understanding costs.
